Geneva June 6 2023: The World Trade Organisation (WTO) estimates that global exports of digitally delivered services grew by 8.1% per year between 2005 and 2022, much higher than the 5.6% growth registered for goods exports.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said: “In 2022, the value of exports of these services, which cover everything from streaming games to consulting services provided by video, reached USD 3.82 trillion — worth 12% of total goods and services trade, up from 8% a decade earlier. With the comparatively slow recovery of tourism and other services requiring cross-border movement of people, digitally delivered services have increased their footprint in global services trade. Last year represented 54% of total global services exports.”
The WTO and the international community have a collective responsibility to help members harness the full potential of the digital economy for economic growth, job creation and trade diversification, said Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at a workshop held at the WTO on e-commerce. At the event, WTO members heard from international organisations on their work on various e-commerce topics and on programmes aimed at helping developing economies benefit from digital trade.
The Director-General highlighted the role of e-commerce in driving growth and trade as well as in creating jobs for women and young people. She stressed that development-related challenges are preventing some members from fully maximising the benefits of digital trade.
